Lighter for cigarettes and the like



LIGHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 26, 1954 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PATENT OFFICE LIGHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Fielding H. Lewis, Towson, Md.

Application February 26, 1934, Serial No. 712,940

3 Claims.

ously lacking in the factors essential to the con Venience of a smoker who is engaged as in driv ing a motor vehicle or in any other occupation in which the entire attention is completely en grossed, and the use of at least one hand is necessary. The lighters with which many motor vehicles are equipped consist merely of a heating unit mo unted in a cup and carried on a cord with an automatic take-up and switch. The use ofthese lighters requires the full attention of the smoker and the use of both hands for at least a short period. I This is'likewise true of the pocket lighters con-. taining a combustible fluid lighted by friction. w Lighting by means of matches requires closeat tention and is objectionable not only in motor vehicles, but under almost all. circumstances on account of the fire hazard and on account of the unsightly waste which results. 7 The lighter of the invention overcomes practically all of the objections to the previouslyex isting equipment, both of the electrical type and those depending on actual combustion for the lighting of the cigarette, being operable with one a, hand and without any necessity for diverting the attentionsof the smoker from other occupations, the lighting and kindling of the cigarette being fully accomplished by automatic means when the cigarette or other smokable is thrust into the lighter and withdrawn therefrom, the. lighter be-. ing operated solely by the pressure of the hand as the cigarette is advanced and prior tothe insertion of the cigarette in the mouth of the smoker. The equipment comprises a movably mounted tube having a flanged opening or mouth for the insertion of the cigarette and connected ,to a diaphragm or other equivalent type of pump which is operated by the pressure of the fingers m, on the tube, thrusting it forward as the cigarette is inserted. The .forwardend of thecigarette engages a heating unit which is in the tube and is thus placed in circuit and energized to kindling temperature contact being closed by the motion m of the tube as it advances. The same motion of ,the tube serves to draw air into the pump which on the withdrawal of the cigarette and the re traction of the tube passes a draft of air through the cigarette as in smoking, serving to kindle the end of the cigarette which has been heated to the temperature of combustion by contact with 5 the heating unit. r

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a lighter for cigarettes embodying the features of my invention in the preferred form.

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, the plane of the section being regarded as either horizontal or vertical, the apparatus being preferably of circular cross section.

Figure 2 is an elevation looking at the apparatus from the rear.

Figure 3 is a front viewof the same as installed in the dash or other similar support.

Figure 4 is a'section through the apparatus on line 4, 4 in Figurel looking to the right in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5, 5 in Figure 1, looking toward the left in said figure.

Referring to'the drawing by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the difierent figures, the construction shown includes a casing l which in the form shown serves as a diaphragm chamber. This casing has a chamber 2 which may be of cylindrical or other suitable form. This chamber is reduced at its forward end, having shoulder 3 surrounding a relatively small cylindrical neck 4 at the front. This is passed through a hole 5 in the dashor instrument board 6 provided for the installation of the lighter. The neck 4 is preferably threaded at I to engage a nut 8 by which the apparatus is held in installed position in the dash, the latter being clamped between the nut 8 on one side and by the shoulder 3 on the other side. At the end opposite to the neck or shank 4 which from the point of view of the smoker using the apparatus may properly be termed the rear, the casing I has an opening surrounded by an outwardly disposed circular flange 9 at right angles to the axis. This flange carries secured to its outer edge around the entire periphery, a flexible rubber diaphragm In which in the preferred form of the invention shown constitutes the moving or operative element or the pump, it being understood that other equivalent pumping apparatus adapted to be similarly operated may be substituted.

In the construction shown the diaphragm I0 is provided with a peripherally arranged thickened portion II, havinga rim l2 turned over parallel to the main body of the diaphragm so that the diaphragm l0 may be secured by stretching the rim l2 over the edge of the flange 9, causing the rim or inturned portion I2 to engage the front side of the flange 9 at the edge so that the diaphragm proper overlies the flange at the rear closing the rear opening of the cylindrical body 2 of the casing i. In this position the diaphragm ID is preferably under suflicient tension to hold it normallyflat and. it is sufficiently .elastic to permit it tob'e repeatedly deflectedand to fully recover from this deflection, as hereinafter described in the pumping and igniting operation.

The diaphragm ll) is provided at its center with a thickened portion I4 havingza-central opening i5 to receive the contact member l6 which is shown in the form of a stud, flanged at one end at l6 and having a rearwardly disposed screw shank H. -A wire I8 connecte'd'toa batterypr other suitable source of elasticity, is engaged with this screw shank l1 between the nuts Iii-thereon and the innernut is-shownas holdingwawasher l9 which'bears.againstthethickened portion M ofthe diaphragm lil oppositely t0.the flange l6. The tube 20 is mounted to-slide .freelyin the neck 4, and has at. its rear endan enlarged chamber 2! which provides a shoulderwZZ-whiohin the forward position :of the .tube as shown bears against the shoulder 3 ofthe casing. This shoulder maytbe formed in any-suitable manner. .The forward end of the tube carries a flanged or. belled mouthpiece ornipple .24 which is preferably of i insuiating material as hardmubber or bakelite,.the same being. threaded at 25to engagea corresponding thread on the end of the tubeor itmay be otherwise suitably-.afflxed thereto. Between the rear end of the mouthpiece ornipple 24..and.the dasha helical spring 26- enclosesthe .tube 2.0.bearing at one-end against the rear end. of said mouthpiecelor nipple and-atthe other endagainstthe casing orother suitable abutment.

As thus mounted, the tube is adapted to yield inwardly to; the pressure otthe.fingersholdingthe cigarette, againstthe mouthpiece or. nipple .Zland it is also automatically retracted by said spring.

The tube 20 mayto advantagabe slotted at its rear end formingtongues or.strips.21 which are turned inwardlyforming arear wall-having openings-28'between said strips, seeFigureE. The inner ends of the strips or tongues 21 asthusturned inwardlyprovide :a supportforthe heater stud 29 which is flanged at :the forward end .at 30 and threadedas to its shankto engage ainut 3L. This stud is insulated from the tube .by means of .a suitable :fibenwasher AD between the stud shank and the tongues-21 and mica washers 4i and 42, also between the lateral surfaces of. said tongues andtheflange .30 and nut.3| so that the stud29 as hereinafter described serves as a conductor for leading currentto theheaterBZ-whichis in turn grounded through the tube .20, the casing .l and thedash 6. Theheater .32 ,is shown "ascensistingof a spiralcoiL-the innerend-of whichis seated in a slot .34 in the end-of .therstud 29, the outer end of saidheater soil-at23 being. secured to ther outer peripheral .wall .of the chamber 2l-.of the tube .20 eitherzby spot welding or .inany suitable manner. I

. In the operation of lighting, .acigarette 136 .is inserted inthe tube unt-iLitcQmes rin contact with the heater 32 Whichmayhe located at any suit.- able point in the tube; Thefingers of .the hand holding the cigarette .bea-ring against the outer edge 35 of the mouthpiece or nipple zdare caused to press against this mouthpiece suflicientiy to.

overcome the slight tension of the sprin ZB-advancing the tube through the neck 4 and bringing the nut 3| on the stud 29 into contact with the head or flange of the stud it. In this way current is led from the wire Hi to the center terminal of the heater 32 which as already described is connected at 3! to the tube on which it is grounded through said tube, the casing 2 and the dash 6. In this way theheater is brought to the temperature of ignition, which is communicated to the end of the cigarette. Further pressure by the fingers on the nipple 24 serves to still further advance the .tube 20 deflecting the diaphragm it sufiiciently to cause the entrance of air through the tube 20 and bpening 28, through and around the cigarette and into the main chamber 2 of the casing I. When the end of .the cigarette has been suitably heated, causinginitial'ignition of the tobacco and wrapping, relaxation of the pressure of the fingers on the mouthpiece 24 permits the tube to be withdrawn bythe spring 26, whereupon the diaphragm Ill-recovers from the deflection expelling the air impended through the tube 26 and through the cigarette. This .gives a full and satisfactory kindling ofthecigarette-withthe use of butone handnand withoutin. any way distracting theattentionof .the smoker from driving or other occupationsin which he may be engaged. v

I have thus described specifically and in detail apreferred.embodiment of my invention in order thatthe manner'of constructing, applying, operating andusing the invention may be fully understood, .however, the specific terms herein are useddescriptively rather than in a limiting sense; the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: i

,1. In .a lighter I-for cigarettes and the'like a tube mounted to move in the direction of its length, the .tube being open at one end for the insertion of a cigarette, and a heating unit carried thereinin alignment with the opening-the tube being .open forthe admission of air near saidheatena diaphragm chamber connected .to said tube oppositely tothe first mentioned opening,.and a diaphragm forming one wall of said chamber, the heater having a contact member connected thereto and the diaphragm having a cooperating .contact'in alignment with the heater contact in the direction of motion of the tube, to be engaged'thereby as the tube is advanced, and means connecting the diaphragmcontact to a source of electricity, the heater being oppositely connected to said source and means for automatically retracting the tube to break the circuit whereby when a cigarette or the like is inserted in the tube into contact with said heater and the tube is advanced by pressure from the front,'the heater is energized and the diaphragm is deflected admitting air to said diaphragm chamber, and as the tube is released, it is automatically withdrawn, the diaphragm being permitted to recover its normal position, ejecting air from the diaphragm chamber through said tube, passing a kindling draft through the cigarette. I

2. In a lighter for cigarettes and the like, a tubeadapted'to receive a cigarette and mounted to movein the direction of its length and having a heater therein and a contact for said heater, the tube being open at one end to receive a cigarette andhavingan opening adjacent the heater for the admission of air to the tube, a diaphragm chamber having adiaphragm forming one wall of the same with the diaphragm having an electrical contact carried there by means connecting the diaphragm contact to a source of electricity, the heater being oppositely connected to said source and means for automatically retracting the tube when it is advanced toward said diaphragm and means for engagement by the hand for advancing the tube to bring the heater contact into engagement with the diaphragm contact energizing the heater and deflecting the diaphragm and admitting air to the diaphragm chamber which is expelled through said openings and through the tube when the diaphragm is released by relaxation of the pressure of the fingers against the end of the tube.

3. In a lighter for cigarettes and the like an electric heater, a tube adapted to receive a cigarette and mounted to move in the direction of its length, the tube being open at one end to receive a cigarette and having openings adjacent the heater for the admission of air, a diaphragm chamber having a neck surrounding said tube,

same being screw threaded for attachment to a panel through which the neck is inserted, the diaphragm chamber having a diaphragm forming one wall of the same opposite said heater in alignment with the heater contact, the diaphragm having an electrical contact, the heater having a contact disposed toward the diaphragm, and moving with said tube, means connecting the diaphragm contact to a source of electricity, the heater being oppositely connected to said source and means for automatically retracting the tube when it is advanced toward said diaphragm and means adjacent the open end of the tube for engagement by the fingers for advancing the tube to bring the heater contact into engagement with the diaphragm contact and deflecting the diaphragm, energizing the heater and admitting air to the diaphragm chamber which is expelled through said openings and through the tube when the diaphragm is released by relaxation of the 20 pressure of the fingers against the end of the tube.

FIELDING H. LEWIS. 

